Prompted by recent controversies over anti-Semitism, Harvard University has adopted a new policy not to speak out on public issues that do not directly relate to the university.
The new policy was adopted after a “working group” of select faculty convened in April to consider whether the university should speak out on hot-button issues in society.
Harvard University said in an email to “members of the Harvard community” on Tuesday:
ToDay, Harvard community Working Group Reportcontains a set of principles and recommendations that ground the use of the institution’s voice in the university’s mission of “seeking truth through open inquiry, debate, and consideration of evidence.” In particular, the report concludes:[t]”Universities and their leaders should not make public statements about public matters that do not directly affect the University’s core functions as an academic institution.” If the University “speaks publicly about matters outside the institution’s area of expertise,” such statements risk undermining the “integrity and credibility” of our academic mission and could undermine open inquiry and academic freedom by making it “more difficult for some members of the community to express views that differ from the University’s official position.”
We have accepted the report and recommendations of the Faculty Working Group, which include: Harvard The process of translating these principles into concrete practice will of course take time and experience, but we are looking forward to the work ahead.
of Harvard Crimson Observed:
The new guidelines were created by a former Harvard University president Claudine Gay resigns After receiving heavy criticism Her first statement The scenario the university envisions following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel is I hope it never happens again With this new stance.
While the “institutional voice” recommendations bring Harvard closer to other universities that have adopted an institutionally neutral stance, the working group’s report and Gerber’s presentation were careful to emphasize that the university is not neutral.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned earlier this year after failing to address anti-Semitism on campus, and university officials have caved in to many of the demands of anti-Israel student activists who occupied Harvard Yard for weeks in violation of university rules.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of his recently published e-book,The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Join It)” is available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Not Free or Fair: The 2020 US Presidential ElectionHe is the recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship in 2018. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
